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Peacekeeping

This year´s theme: Upholding the rule of law

Under the banner of 'Law. Order. Peace' the UN focuses this
year on efforts to strengthen the rule of law on the International Day of UN
Peacekeepers.

This includes the work of UN Police, Corrections Officers
and Judicial Affairs Officers working in the field. They work to ensure the
support of vital human rights, such as access to justice, and fair and
impartial legal systems.

A day in the life of a UN Police Officer

Angela Anyeman left Ghana in early 2010 to join the United
Nations- African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) as a UN Police officer. Based
in El Fasher, North Darfur, she is the gender and child protection focal point
for the Zam Zam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which is home to
over 50,000 internally displaced people..
UNAMID carries out three patrols daily in Zam Zam, with a rotation that
allows UNAMID to patrol 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Each day, Angela
works a different shift. Today she is on the morning patrol.

At 8.00 am she meets her fellow UN Police officers at the
Zam Zam camp. They go over the route and arrangements for the convoy. These
patrols are carried out daily to ensure that IDPs are not only protected but
also feel safe. UNAMID Police strive to
be visible in the entire camp throughout the day. The convoy is usually
escorted by Indonesian or Jordanian Formed Police Units (FPU), a group of armed
police who provide security, although occasionally a Nepalese FPU provides
protection. The camp’s security is now far better than it was before UNAMID was
established.

UN Peacekeeping

The
celebration of World Peacekeepers Day, 29 May comes at a time of record
breaking activities by the United Nations in peacekeeping. 120,000 military,
police and civilians (see fact box) are serving worldwide under the blue flag.
15 peace operations are currently directed and supported by the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General highlights the “heavy sacrifices” of
UN staff in his message on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers: “The
tragedies that have befallen United Nations peacekeepers already this year are
a sobering reminder of the risks entailed in their important work for peace.”

United Nations Peacekeeping on Twitter and Facebook

Three Questions to Margot Wallström

Ms.Margot Wallström, became the first UN Secretary-General´s
Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict when she was
appointed by Mr. Ban Ki-moon in February 2010. Prior to her
appointment, Ms. Wallström, a Swedish politician with a long history in defending women’s rights, served
as Vice-President of the European Commission. Ms. Wallström answered
Three Questions at an event in Brussels to mark the International Day
of UN Peacekeepers.

The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.